Saina isn’t worried about facing Yihan: Gopichand

Saina Nehwal’s coach Pullela Gopichand says that the Indian ace isn’t worried about facing Wang Yihan and that she is in great shape and is a champion player now. According to a report in The Times Of India, Gopichand said, “People think Saina is worried about Yihan, but that's not true. Rather, she has always troubled Yihan. Moreover, Saina is in great shape now and Yihan, I think, is struggling a bit. I think the quarterfinal clash against Tine Baun will be tough. But we have our plans ready for all of them. If Saina plays the way she did in June, it would be very difficult to stop her.”

Gopichand also said that in Beijing Games there were no expectations on Saina  and a lot of things have changed after that. “She stunned everyone when she made it to the quarters. She had a 'nothing to lose attitude' then. So she went all out and gave her best. She carries the same attitude even today; the moment she's on court, she forgets everything else and goes all out for a win. But as a player, she has now changed for the better. She is in great shape, has more experience on her side. She's won more than a dozen titles over the last four years, and is a champion player now. Yes, there may be some pressure, of carrying the hopes of millions of fans, but I am confident she can deal with that,” said Gopichand, adding that Saina is doing Yoganidhra to ease off pressure.

“She's been spending about 40-45 minutes everyday practising Yoganidhra. It's a great way to relieve pressure. I myself have been following it since my playing days and have experienced its merit. Moreover, we would be analyzing her forthcoming matches and thinking of ways to deal with her opponents. I am not worried about her; she knows how to handle things.”

Meanwhile according to a report in The Indian Express, two-time Olympian shuttler Aparna Popat is confident that India would have its best-ever showing in the history of the Olympic Games this time and expects a haul of at least half a dozen medals in the mega event-that kicks off on Friday in London.
“I think six or seven medals is what we can look for from this Olympics,” Popat said here at an event organised by magazine Sportstar. India picked up a gold in shooting, and two bronze medals in boxing and wrestling in the previous Games at Beijing, which remains the country's highest-ever performance from a single Olympics.

She earmarked Saina Nehwal as the strongest contender for a medal in the London Games.
“I did visit the training centre and met Saina there. I have also been seeing her matches in the Indonesian Open. In a sense I have this inkling of how she is playing and her form. Hence I am very confidently saying a medal will come. I don't know which medal would come but definitely wish for gold,” the 34-year-old former national champion said, adding, “In badminton, she is the best bet. In doubles also we have a chance but seeing the draw that is an outside chance.”